“We may have all come in different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Oftentimes we define ourselves more by our differences than our similarities.

To some degree, we separate people into distinct groups because it’s safe. But we also do this to simplify. When we categorize people into groups, we don’t need to put too much thought into how we respond to them; we save energy by responding how we did with similar people.

As the Dalai Lama points out in his book The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World:

“Our social environments in the modern world can be very complex, and since the brain likes to conserve its resources, it looks for ways to simplify our world and make it easier to navigate the course of our social interactions.”

Which translates to: we stereotype because it’s easy–a mental shortcut.

The Dalai Lama’s conclusion is hopeful: we can overcome the us vs. them philosophy, break down our preconceived assumptions, and make meaningful connections with far more people than we would have otherwise.

It all starts with a simple choice: to see people as unique individuals and make the effort to know them.

Make the effort today. Make eye contact, say hello, un-strange a stranger. The world is full of beautiful people, worth knowing and appreciating, who are waiting to know and appreciate you. The more you open your heart, the more love you’ll experience.